CENTENNIAL | After reviewing more than 260 juror questionnaires, prosecutors and lawyers for James Holmes agreed to dismiss 88 potential jurors in the Aurora theater shooting case Thursday.
Those jurors, plus others released for language, residency or other issues, bring the total of released jurors in the first three days of jury selection to 121.
It wasn’t clear what reasons the two sides gave for releasing the 88 on Thursday, and it appears doubtful the two sides will say publicly why they are releasing some jurors.
District Attorney George Brauchler said he didn’t want to say in open court why the two sides decided to release the prospective jurors because he didn’t want future jurors to use the information in an effort to get released.
“I’m concerned we create a road map for someone who is going to show up tomorrow or a week from now,” he said.
Brauchler said the prosecution could file a sealed motion in the coming days explaining their reasoning.
Among those released are three who prosecutors said on Tuesday were spotted using their phones in the courtroom, a violation of the judge’s order. Two others had asked to be released on Wednesday. One of them told the judge they have a variety of digestive ailments and have to care for a disabled wife. The other said serving on the jury would hurt his orthodontics business because it would take him away from work.
About 660 prospective jurors have reported to court since Tuesday in waves of about 130 at a time. That leaves about 540 jurors who have filled out their questionnaires and could still serve on the jury.
Judge Carlos Samour, Jr. said court staff will post the juror numbers for those released to the court’s website.
Samour released others because they didn’t speak any English. In each case, the prospective juror had brought along their child to translate for them. ‘
Others have said they don’t speak English well, but if they speak any English the judge has opted to tell them to try their best rather than dismiss them.
Holmes appeared in court wearing a dark red sweater and slacks. He sat quietly at the defense table throughout the hearing.
He is accused of killing 12 and wounding 70 more in a July 2012 shooting rampage at an Aurora movie theater. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Jury selection is expected to resume Friday morning and continue through May or June.
cut a deal; 12 counts of first degree murder to be served consecutively with no possibility of parol.
Why drag this out for months?
absolutely agree….forget the death penalty…over like what? 20years????plea bargain it
Capital punishment needs to come back! I’m sick of paying taxes to let these people that should get the death penalty, and don’t. The rate of people going in prison have gone up big time, because it’s free for them to live. Not free for us, that’s a huge factor in us paying more in taxes, and putting our families at risk of losing homes and everything else. We’re giving our families up to keep them happy. Enough is enough!
Thank you George for wasting the taxpayers’s money.
My question would be, how did so many non-speakers of English get on Jury rolls. I understood those came from drivers license and voting registration database. Is there another database also used? I know Aurora has a diverse population, and intrepetors are made available when Spanish or other languages are concerned in trials or schools.